San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-26
CHAPTER III.
DICKS TREAsURE-TRovE.

| morning the sun streamed gloriously
| athwart the snow-laden branches of the
| leafless trees bordering the Green Park,
| across the wide frosted roadway, in be-,
| twiXt the creviceS of grey venetian
blinds, until finally it bathed in sea Of
| golden glory the snug breakfast-room
at One Hundred and Thirty-three,
where Dick Carlisle and his friends sat
round Widespread table drawn close
to the blazing ire.
by Jove, rum go, indeed" quoth
young Dudelle, raising a steaming cup
of coffee to his lips, having first settled
his eye-glass with elaborate care, as
though this precaution were necessary
to the real enjoyment of the flavor Of
genuine Mocha. Lets have her in, l
vote, and hear what she has to say for
herself. Curtis, what say your" -
Il re-echO the sentiments of my no
Bile FRIEND" returned the man addressed
as Curtis, intent at that moment ON the
dissection of cold fowl, with a view
to the judicious removal of the most
succulent mOrSel to his own plate.
Lets have her in, by all means, and
sharp's the word, for in another
twenty minutes or so l must be off,"
Thus admOnished, Dick carefully
wiped his blonde moustache upon his
serviette, and turned to the page-boy in
attendance.
jenkins, ask Mrs. Davids if she'll
kindly bring the little girl upstairs at
once. l want some talk with them
both before start"
Eyes. sir-thankee, SIR"
And Jenkins disappeared, his multi
tudinous buttons cleaning in the sun,
as he turned the angle Of the table,
like flash of-electro-plate," Dudelle
observed grimly, as he passed his cup
for "a dash more cream"
A moment later Mrs. Davids ap-
peared upon the scene, pushing Greta
before her much as though the girl had
been a young calf which it was the
housekeeper's duty to ':shush" in safe
ty to place of shelter without the aid,
on this occasion, of the usual invalua-
BILE stick: She was, therefore, fam to
content herself by ''prOdding" the child
blades with the bony knuckles of her
right hand, until she came to full
stop upon the threshold, and gave her
gents collectively CHEEKY morning
salutatiOn.
"Ah, here you are then, youngster,"
began Dick, inspecting his protegee with
some curiosity in the morning sunlight.
swell, how did you sleepY"
Rect enOw-savin' black-bottles."
returned the child, gaping, wide-eyed
and open-mouthed, round the luXuri-
ously-furnished room, and then at its
occupants individually and collect
lively.
The three young men burst into a
roar of laughter at this unexpected sal
ly, while Mrs. Davids explained, with
natural indignation, that "th' young
rubbish had had the impotence to be
afraid on a solitary BEETLE or two-aS
though any London kitChing could be
expected to be free o. SIGH, lettin' alone
that wi'Out doubt there was a deal
queerer livestock customers located j.
miss's bedroom (sayin' the mark!) as a
| rule"
"Well, but now tell u.s." said Dick,
when the burst of mcrriment had sub
sided, and the child, with one finger in
her mouth, stood staring stOlidly at
him, "what were you really up to last
night, before the bobby found you?
You were in the Strand, seemingly, at
| half-past one. What were you about
meanwhile? Where had you come
from? Where were you off to? In
| short, what was your little gamer"
II wur wi MargOt. She druvs hor-
gin an plays tambOoreen, an Nects
| the ha'pence-when We gifts any,"
Mrs. Davids, at this juncture, de-
| posed in Gn undertOne to the existence
| of the said instrument of warfare,
which, she babe leave to observe, gave
"a certing colorin' of truth" to the
child's story, (which otherwise, no
| doubt, wur moOstinglingS lies"
mot necessarily, Mrs. Davids," re-
torted Dick with unwOnted severity.
"And now" turning again to the child,
who's MargOt? Your mother, sup
'sNoa-mi mither's dead. She loan'd
me t. Margot fore she died, three year
or more ago."
''And where were you going last eve
ning?"
'Dunno, Chrismassin' sumwhere."
''And what's become of MargOtp"
The child shook her head and paused
moment indecisively before reply
ing;
she stopt, spent like, bit furder up
tn sthreet, an II jist cut an run.
Il wur that tired" she supplemented
falteringly, as though conscious that
some apology or explanation of this in
dependent course of action on her part
would forthwith be demanded, IAN /
wanted t. luke a. mi thrippenny-bit,
an'-an' Margot were doonreet bad t.
me, beside!"
swell done, little onel' rejoined Du-
dele, laughing heartily. I'm plain
English then, having determined to
give the enemy the slip. you deserted